𝘛𝘑 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 & 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘴 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 by Antoine Bandele is quite frankly incredible.

Unlike a lot of audiobooks, 𝘛𝘑 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 & 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘴 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 has a lot of atmospheric sound effects as the story unfolds and the narrator Nekia Renee brings every character to life so you feel like you are there with TJ as his life changes more than he can ever imagine.

I really like that TJ is a self-confessed introvert which for many will be something they can relate to. The Young family live in a magical enclave in modern-day Los Angeles, but unlike his siblings and Mother, TJ is mundane - finding himself unable to truly fit in anywhere whether it be with his peers in school who aren't a part of the magical community nor within his family.

Bandele's way of describing the way TJ finds out about the passing of his sister is so well done and although we as the reader don't meet her, you cannot help but resonate with his initial confusion and then anger and need for answers as to what took someone who was a magical prodigy away from them all.

His journey of discovery leads to him breaking out of his introverted way of existing as his main focus becomes on answers and truth because things simply do not add up. I again welcomed the fact that his journey of awareness isn't easy, Bandele could have easily had TJ using his sister's notoriety to get what he wants but instead it is resolence and acceptance that what he thought of being pure luck throughout his life could be the key to discovery. He takes risks, many being things we would regard as normal, he finds himself going away to New Orleans as part of a camp designed to help those who didn't enter the various schools of Magic gain a control on their skills. (No... this is nothing like Harry Potter etc before you think that... I promise.) TJ learns he can break a shyness and gain friends who become fiercely loyal and educate him just as much as the adults do on the deities known as Orishas.

This to me is where Antoine Bandele's book truly comes into its own by introducing the legends of Orishas within this fictional tale. I found each and everyone of them fascinating as they were completely new to me... Wikipedia became my friend for learning more about them and I cannot wait for more from the TY and the Orishas series to learn about them both in a fictional and a factual manner.

𝘛𝘑 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 & 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘴 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 is a must for me and I cannot wait for more. You may get drawn in by the beautiful cover art but you will stay for this story that draws you in and makes you eager for answers and justice.

I found this book very interesting, I love the way the writer approaches different cultures, the narrator is fun and very good with the different accents. I just think the book is too slow, it takes too much on one scene, even more than one chapter hence I found my self a little bit bored by that. The plot has everything to make it a great read but misses a lot of it's greatness because of that.

A refreshing voice, sorely needed and welcome. Mark my words, T.J. Young is a future classic.

Bandele makes everything read smoothly, with current and compelling dialogue, anda beautiul incorporation of Yoruba, Portuguese and Spanish. I will always have a special place in my heart for stories that can't be contained to only one language.

Rich in cultural knowledge while retaining that aspect of fun and wonder for the younger readers that may be completely unfamiliar with the Orishas of West African folklore. And because you can't exist in a vacuum, and extract one from the other, there is relevant and necessary exploration of what it means to be a young Black boy in America.

TJ's magical challenges are only a fraction of his story, only one lawyer of this experience.
I can't wait to see what comes next for Bandele and TJ both.

The production quality of the audiobook was great. The narrator was absolutely fantastic. The only thing that bugged me was the sound transitions between chapters. I personally don't care for those, but they were well done.

This story depicts a world where there are magic users based on West African Orisha mythology. The worldbuilding was fantastic. Our main character, 14-year-old TJ Young, just lost his sister to mysterious circumstances. TJ unexpectedly comes into his powers and receives an invitation to a magical summer camp in Louisana to hone his new powers. Adventure ensues are he, with friends he makes along the way, searches for answers regarding his sister's death.

Fans of Percy Jackson and Children of Blood and Bone would probably enjoy this first in a new series.

**I received an audiobook ARC from NetGalley.

4 stars

I really liked this!
The story was enthralling and magical and mysterious and ugh so good.
This felt very young adult but somehow I think this will appeal everyone because the story was was interesting and the world building and atmosphere was amazing.
I do have to say I didn't like the narrator for this audiobook. Sometimes the way some words were said was confusing and that pulled me off the story but overall it was great.
I truly recommend this book because it was a delightful reading/listening experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

This book was an extremely fun middle grade read. TJ Young is a very likeable main character whose struggles feel authentic and realistic. The story took a while to build up, but it did keep me hooked the entire time. The side characters each also had interesting character development, though they could have been more fleshed out. There were a lot of twists and turns, some were a little predictable but there were some that I didn't expect. My favourite aspects of this book are the mythology, world building and magic system. I had read one book inspired by the West African mythology before, but this one made the mythology and magic system really accessible and easy to understand. This audiobook was the best audiobook I have ever listened to. The narrator was amazing and the background noises really immersed you in the story. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series.

The production of this audiobook was top tier! The narration, pacing and sound effects all made the emotion and action of the plot shine through. For anyone looking for their next favourite mythological read: this audio is definitely the way to go!

I enjoyed the narrator's telling of the story, however, did take some time to get into.
Thank you NetGalley, Bandele Books, Independent Books Publishers Association (IBPA), and Members’ Audiobooks for providing me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review and I am leave my review voluntarily.

2/5 DNF this at 11%.

I just couldn't get into this audiobook but may try it again later because there were a lot of aspects I liked about it.

This book is an enjoyable read filled with fantastical elements inspired from West African mythology. It was refreshing to read a fantasy book that was not based in an European setting. The book also features the African-American family and community bond. The protagonist's relationship with his parents and sister is wonderfully portrayed (though we are only "told" about him and his sister, I would have liked to see some flashbacks of his sister so her character and sibling bond with TJ seemed more believable). The book is set in a summer camp, which is very atmospheric and nostalgic, not to mention an apt read for the current time.

My biggest problem with this book is that it is very trope-y and predictable. I don't know if this was done consciously or not, but the book heavily draws from the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, both in character caricatures and plot development. TJ sees a female camper who is very skilled in their magic and is immediately smitten by her (Annabeth Chase from PJ?). TJ befriends a male camper who is unpopular and eats all the time (Ron Weasley from HP?). This "foodie" character is obviously fat and does nothing except eat, think about eating, and talk about eating (I don't think I have to explain why this is problematic). TJ is mocked/bullied by a rich popular guy who is mean to him for no reason except that TJ has some magical fame to his family name (Draco Malfoy from PJ?). I could have ignored these character similarities cause they have become a staple in most MG/YA fantasy books. But the "plot twist" or "villain reveal" is so obviously taken from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone! TJ hates a camp teacher (let's call him Mr. X) just because he is strict and we are made to believe that Mr. X is the one causing menace. I won't tell who the culprit ultimately is (cause spoilers), but if you have read Philosopher's Stone, you know. I'm giving this 3 stars cause I believe the series has a lot of potential, and I'd love to read about African mythology and Nigerian culture, if the author does not repeat these particularly popular tropes.

Audiobook: 5/5 for the narrator and production! There were amazing sound effects (crickets chirping, children chattering, airport announcements etc) that make you feel that you're living in the story. The narrator's voice and accents were engaging and definitely piqued by interest in the story (I am not Nigerian so I will not comment whether the accents were accurate or not).

I received a free audiobook version of this work in exchange for an honest review, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

First, the audiobook production was top notch. The narrator Nekia Renee did an excellent and engaging job, and the additional sound and musical effects did a great job enhancing the story experience. I probably would not have gotten through this book if it was not an audiobook; IMO there were too many things in the story that were too similar to other stories in the genre (honestly at times it felt like almost a fanfic adaptation), but the world building and the excellent audio presentation kept me going through to the end.

The world building and level of detail in the story is vivid and deep, with plenty of opportunity to have other stories in the expanded universe, so to speak.

The West African mythology and elements of culture were woven into the story expertly in an inviting way, with a very approachable narrative.

The premise and set up of the story was interesting, and will feel familiar and relevant to others in the genre (chosen one, magical school, adults being clueless); there were many story beats and tropes included that we’ve seen in other works like the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series. I actually think I would’ve liked this story more if I had never read Harry Potter when I was younger.

I felt that the way the characters related and demonstrated emotion, particularly in processing grief, were authentic and realistic, as well as relevant to the plot. I liked the portrayal of friendship among the main characters; I like the inclusion of his family in the story, there’s a lot of positive things there.

I didn’t actually like the main character TJ very much. He was a nice guy, but the first 70% of the book there’s absolutely no character development and he’s very passive as someone who is supposed to be a hero. Time after time I got frustrated with his decisions or his lack of engagement in things that became important to his own journey. There was also quite a bit of fat phobic language that I found very distasteful in reference to TJ‘s friend Joshua. Hopefully in future works his character can grow up a bit and take more of an active role in solving his problems and not giving up easily or relying on others to do the work to save the day.

The pacing of the book was challenging, there was a lot of time spent building up to a massive powered fantasy climax and the ending was a bit predictable.

If you enjoyed the world, I think it would be worth checking out other stories that take place there. I believe the author does have at least one short story available on his own website. I might check out a sequel of this book just to see if there’s more character development for TJ. And to see this world hopefully grow into the uniqueness it seems capable of.

Thank you, #netgalley for providing me with the audiobook

I had a blast!! super fun world building, great characters and the voice actor also did really great accents (which was so unexpected). really wish there was a series like this when i was in middle school!
the yoruba pantheon >

thank you netgalley for providing me with the ARC for this book
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after the mysterious death of TJ’s older sister, TJ comes into his powers unexpectedly and gets sent to a summer camp in louisiana for young people who also have powers.
this book explored a very fun journey through african-american culture, religions, folklore & mythology. it was a little bit of a slow start for me but after a few chapters i got hooked. i’m very excited to see where the author takes TJ next.

regarding the audio: it kind of echoed a bit but im not sure if that was a problem with my headphones or the actual book

Audiobook review:
Truly well done! This story is about a young boy going through big life changes in a very realistic way, while navigating a very fantastical world. Presented in a tone that feels personal, like a deja-vu of your own thoughts, the MC (TJ) becomes quickly relatable, though I have never personally encountered such events. I feel like I grew as a person as though I had experienced these trials along side TJ. I can’t wait to share it with my son when he reaches middle school age!

No matter your age or lot in life, there’s something to be enjoyed in this tale of a 14 year old African American boy navigating a loss that creates a new path for him. He is a self described introvert that grows up feeling like an outsider, the mundane in an anything-but-mundane world. Pushing through that to make new friendships, his vulnerability is always there, admitting he still feels too normal to consider letting them get close. He is not the chosen, but he acts anyway.

You may read the description and think “another camp adventure? Why try when Percy Jackson did it so well.” Well think again! This is its own unique adventure, with characters that feel real and individual, and a magic system that can actually be followed. TJ is a novice so you get to learn about much of the world and magic alongside him. His curiosity is contagious and the mystery draws you deep into the world of West African mythology.

To be honest, I was unsure if I would be the right reader to review this as it is not exactly up my alley. However, the story itself and the way it was written makes it feel more universal. Though the author makes sure to explain that this is fantasy fiction and does not reflect the true practice of Ifa (please excuse any misspelling as I listened to, not read the story), it certainly sparked an interest in me to learn more of the culture surrounding it.

The language used was descriptive, without feeling drawn out. There was never a time I felt as though I were wading through fillers. The world in which you are pulled through is rich and fantastical without being unobtainable. It makes the story much more lived in, similar to how Harry Potter comes across. This story I personally feel would be much more easily received by young people, though easily enjoyed by adults as well.

The setting was well done, especially considering the overuse of the New Orleans bayou. Coincidently, my husband and I are going on a vacation to New Orleans in a week. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to visit the bayou and surrounding areas, growing up reading so many stories with NOLA as the setting. As often happens when a dream is about to come true, there are doubts and fears that arise in completing something you have been so invested in. But once again, this story has stoked that fire and my excitement has returned!

The narrator did an excellent job reading in a tone that was easy to follow. Her narration of the dialogue was excellent, each voice unique and true to character. The only true critique I would have of her is that sometimes (not often) it felt near monotone through the story. The dialogue was very well done, but when there wasn’t any for long stretches of time, or an important or emotional moment, my mind would have difficulty staying interested and would somewhat wonder. This was no fault of the story, but the tone of voice used to read it.

I have listened to many audiobooks that tried to incorporate certain sounds or special effects that often fell flat, felt misplaced, or had the opposite intended effect and seemed to take away the magic of the story. This was not the case in this audiobook. Maybe it is due to the placement, or maybe the editing job was much better or thought through. Either way, it is the first time I’ve heard it enhance the narration, rather than hinder it.

Overall, if you are considering this book/audiobook for yourself or a young person in your life, it’s definitely worth your time!

NetGalley review for the audiobook. This is a personal review, requested by the publisher with no bias or monetary compensation.

There’s two things I will always adore: magical school tropes, and #ownvoices stories. If you love these too, or know a BIPOC kid who will, you’ll absolutely love TJ Young and the Orishas.

TJ Young and the Orishas is an electric YA series that explores Yoruba tradition and is crafted especially for those who love adventure and magic. When we meet our protagonist, TJ, he is an awkward teenager with an inability to practice the magic - despite nearly everyone around him being able to. When his older sister - someone who exists like the sun in TJ’s life - dies under mysterious circumstances, TJ fights to uncover the truth surrounding her death and, in doing so, discovers his own power. From here, TJ finds himself enrolled at Camp Olosa - a place for diviners to learn about and practice their magic. Equipped with new knowledge, new companions, and a deep love for his sister, TJ embarks on a journey for answers.

With a cast of expertly crafted characters, and an extraordinary world built around them, Bandele has cultivated a tale I can’t help but recommend. While enjoyable for all readers, my heart lights up at the notion of Black kids having access to a story truly written for them, with Yoruba tradition and Black cultural references woven into the foundation of this book. This is a story of family, friendship, and overcoming, that also touches on difficult themes of grief and loss.

TJ is exactly the kind of hero every kid need. Relatably awkward, fun, and learning how to find his inner power, in both magical and non-magical ways. 5 Stars for The Gatekeeper’s Staff!